Three minor girls suffocated to death on Christmas day after their parents applied a pesticide, Aluminium Phosphide 560TB fumigation tablets on their shelled maize and stored the maize in a storeroom next to their bedroom before going to bed in Inyati.

The girls were aged 7, 5, and one year old.

In a statement that was released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said:

Members of the public are urged to be cautious when using pesticides. On 25/12/21, three female infants aged seven, one and five years died in their sleep whilst their parents, aged 42 and 27 escaped death by a whisker at Jowa Village, Inyati.
The victims suffocated after their parents had applied Aluminium Phosphide 560TB fumigation tablets on their shelled maize, stored the maize in a storeroom next to their bedroom and went to bed. During the night, the victim’s parents developed some health complications and
when they checked on their children they discovered that they had already died. The victim’s parents later received medical attention through the assistance of neighbours

1/3 Members of the public are urged to be cautious when using pesticides. On 25/12/21, three female infants aged seven, one and five years died in their sleep whilst their parents, aged 42 and 27 escaped death by a whisker at Jowa Village, Inyati.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) December 30, 2021